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US bases in Greece threaten Turkey, says Erdogan’s ally

Leader of the Turkish Nationalist Movement Party Devlet Bahceli also pointed out that the US is using the Greek side as a pawn

ANKARA, May 31. /TASS/. Greece is playing with fire in its strained relations with Turkey, and US bases in that country threaten Ankara's security, the leader of the Turkish Nationalist Movement Party, Devlet Bahceli, affiliated with an alliance with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said on Tuesday.

"Greece is playing with fire. The nine US bases in Greece are a threat to our security. America is using the Greek side as a pawn. The assets stolen from us must be returned," he said, referring to the territorial disputes between Ankara and Athens over islands in Aegean Sea. Bahceli's statement was broadcast by the NTV channel.

He stressed that Turkey might have back the assets in question "amicably or with the use of force."

"The Greek government’s position is evasive. The Turkish nation will not tolerate any threats from the other side of the Aegean," he warned. In his opinion, Athens' request for "F-15 and F-16 aircraft from the United States, hostile gestures towards Turkey and the militarization of the islands will lead not to peace, but to polarization."

"The issue of [sovereignty over] the 12 islands is our unhealed wound. They were illegally taken away from Turkey. And this is one of the main problems in Turkish-Greek relations pending solution. We will live to see the day when their original owner will take over," Bahceli said.

Turkey accuses Greece of violating international obligations regarding the demilitarization of the islands in the Aegean Sea and threatens with strong retaliatory measures, including, as it is believed, military steps. Ankara says its position stems from the peace agreements concluded in Lausanne (1923) and Paris (1947). Also, it warns that it will retaliate, if Athens expands its territorial waters in the Aegean Sea from 6 nautical miles to 12.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, for his part, said in January that "Turkey has deployed the largest amphibious force and the largest amphibious fleet in the Mediterranean opposite the Greek islands" while demanding at the same time that Greece demilitarize its islands, in other words, abandon the recognized right to self-defense the UN Charter provides for.

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United States Turkey Greece

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